Emma Watson urges businesses to improve transparency at wildlife forum
The actress joined Prince William and Benedict Cumberbatch in London to discuss tackling the illegal wildlife trade.
Actress Emma Watson joined Prince William, the Prince of Wales, and Benedict Cumberbatch at a United for Wildlife business forum in London on June 22, 2026. According to the Times of India, the event was held during London Climate Action Week to discuss addressing illegal wildlife trade.
Speaking at the forum, Watson called on brands and businesses to take more responsibility for the natural world. She noted that storytelling, innovation, and corporate accountability are essential for environmental action, particularly for younger generations.
The gathering marked 10 years of the Buckingham Palace Declaration, which began in 2016 with 40 corporations and has grown to more than 300 members. Founded in 2013 by Prince William, the United for Wildlife initiative works with various sectors to disrupt wildlife trafficking networks.
Major digital platforms including Amazon, Google, Meta, TikTok, and eBay committed to ending illegal wildlife trade listings on their sites using AI-enabled detection. These platforms represent about 33 per cent of the global e-commerce market.
In the financial sector, companies such as PayPal and Chainalysis are joining efforts under the Mansion House Declaration to track suspicious activity. Meanwhile, British Airways is starting a public awareness pilot at Heathrow, and Vodafone, Vodacom, and Safaricom will use AI and transaction monitoring on M-Pesa to identify trafficking-linked payments.